Massive Fish Kill Begins

NORTH DAKOTA, US - In an effort to eradicate 'junk' fish and replenish game fish, The North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF) has commenced a massive fish kill in a watershed pond north of Patterson Lake in Dickinson.

Jeff Hendrickson, NDGF’s southwest district fisheries supervisor, said the fish kill in Patterson Lake itself will not begin until the first week in October, reports The Dickinson Press.

Mr Hendrickson said it is still safe to swim in Patterson Lake as no chemicals will flow in.

“We’ve gotta work on the watershed first,” he said.

Agricultural insecticide rotenone is being added to the water and fish eventually die as the chemical depletes the oxygen from the water.

The chemical lasts in the water three days to a week.

“Even though it is non-toxic to humans, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) haven’t established acceptable levels for human consumption, we don’t recommend it,” Mr Hendrickson said in August.

It is recommended people stay out of areas where the chemical has been applied for about a week.

The chemical is however, toxic to pigs, Hendrickson said.

While Mr Patterson Lake will not receive the chemical for a few weeks, the watersheds feeding into the lake must be cleared of the “junk” fish first.